Vice President Mike Pence was in Orlando Thursday, where he helped roll out the Trump administration and Republican Party's plans for tax reform.

  • Vice President Mike Pence touting tax plan
  • Met with Orlando-area business, community leaders
  • Named 'Statesman of the Year' by Republican Party of Florida

Pence was joined on the Central Florida swing by Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Pence met with Central Florida businesses, community leaders and families to push for the need for tax reform. Part of his visit included remarks at Correct Craft, a marine company in east Orange County that owns several boat and boat engine companies, including Nautique and Centurion, and owns a company that operates Orlando Watersports Complex, according to its LinkedIn profile.

Pence wrapped up his visit with an appearance at the 2017 Annual Republican Party of Florida Statesman's Dinner at Disney's Grand Floridian hotel, where he was honored as "Statesman of the Year."

“Thanks to Florida’s strong support, last November, our President won a historic victory with more than 4.6 million Florida votes," Pence said, delivering prepared remarks for the gathered politicians and donors. "We all know that the surest path to the strongest comeback requires renewing the promise of America – and I’m here tonight to tell you that President Trump is doing exactly that by rolling back the heavy hand of government."

The vice president also used the opportunity at the gathering to drive home the administration's message on the importance of tax reform.

"Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re gonna cut taxes across the ​board for working families, small businesses, and family farms," Pence said. "The President and I are committed to working with all of Florida’s Republican leaders in the Congress to give the American people the kind of tax cuts and tax reform that will make the American economy great again.”

President Donald Trump says a major part of the tax reform plan is to lower taxes for the middle class and small and large businesses. 

Democrats say the GOP's tax reform plans would raise taxes for middle-class families in states where local and state taxes are already high.

"I think if the president spent time to read the bill, he would oppose it. But, his advisers come in and tell him, "Oh, this is great, this cuts middle class taxes." And, one of the many problems with this president, he doesn't know the actual details," Sen. Chuck Schumer said.